Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are out, meaning Nacho Monreal will continue at left-back, while Laurent Koscielny and Carl Jenkinson also miss the game.

Lucas Torreira is doubtful after suffering a calf injury on international duty with Uruguay, and he will need to pass a late fitness test.

Bookmakers believe Newcastle face an uphill task this weekend, with Rafa Benitez’s side priced at 3/1 to win the game.

Arsenal can be backed at 17/20, while the draw is on offer at 11/4, and punters can use this free bet calculator to work out their potential winnings before wagering on the outcome.

The two sides have met 46 times in the Premier League, with Newcastle claiming just 10 victories. Arsenal have beaten the Magpies on 26 occasions, including nine wins at St James’ Park.

The two sides last met back in April, with Newcastle sealing a 2-1 home win. Alexandre Lacazette fired the visitors ahead, but goals by Ayoze Perez and Ritchie secured the three points.

While Newcastle have struggled for results this season, it is worth noting that Benitez’s side have been beaten by three of last season’s top six.

Things are unlikely to get any easier against the Gunners, but upcoming games against Crystal Palace (A) and Leicester City (H) offer excellent opportunities to get some points on the board.

A trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United live on TV on October 6 will be another difficult test, although the Magpies then face a run of six games against teams they are more than capable of beating.

Benitez has made it clear that he is unhappy with the lack of investment in his playing squad, but he must put that to one side for now to ensure that Newcastle don’t get sucked into a relegation battle.

A repeat of last season’s result against Arsenal would be a great way to kick-start the campaign, although a draw wouldn’t be the worst result in the world.

NUFCBlog Author: Frankly Various
Frankly Various has written 23 articles on this blog.